AN investigation has been launched into an online booking system being pioneered by an airline at Manchester Airport after it was claimed it could pose a serious security risk.

Passengers booking British Airways flights on the Internet are able to print a boarding card on their own home or office computer system up to 24 hours before travelling.

The printouts - which replace traditional boarding passes issued at airport check-ins allowing access to secure areas - should be specific to only one individual passenger.

But two businessmen discovered it is possible to print off more than one copy of the online boarding card. They then both used the same card to check in for a flight to London Gatwick, and were shocked to find they went unchallenged through two security screening processes and managed to gain access to the restricted "air side" area where the departure lounges are situated.

Staff

Both security checks failed to spot that only one of the two passengers had a bona fide pass, and that the other was a duplicate.

Manchester Airport says it is now conducting internal inquiries and says the importance of checking boarding cards will be stressed to security staff.

British Airways who have been using the system in Manchester for only two months, have described it as `teething trouble'.

They say whilst they are concerned that it could happen, security was not compromised, because everyone checking-in would be subject to the normal rigorous security screenings.

But Trevor Fisher, one of the two businessmen who found the flaw in the system says: "It would appear to have very serious implications.

"If the security checks fail to pick up on the fact that someone is using what is in effect a valid boarding pass, it means anyone - a terrorist or otherwise - might be able to get airside, and very close to aircraft."

Director

The incident is the latest in a series of security failures at Manchester Airport. Only last month calls for better flight security were made after a passenger unknowingly smuggled a knife - like those used by the September 11 hijackers - on to a plane at Manchester.

Last September a number of security failings were highlighted in a BBC Whistleblower programme .

Mr Fisher, who is marketing director of Surrey and Berkshire Newspapers, part of the Guardian Media Group , said: "My colleague Chris Roberts printed two boarding passes quite by accident.

"We were travelling on the same flight and I had my own pass, but we decided to test the security system and see if we could both get through check-in using in effect, the same boarding card.

"We deliberately went through quite separately, allowing several other passengers between us, and the fact that we both had the same pass went completely unnoticed.

"It was only when we came to board the aircraft that I proffered my own genuine boarding pass."

A spokesman for British Airways said: "It is possible to print copies of a boarding card, but each would bear the word `Duplicate' on it, and frankly it should have been picked up. We can only put it down to human error.

"The system has only been in operation for two months, and though we are delighted with the way it has worked, any new system will have teething troubles.

Seat

"We are concerned that someone was able to pass through the check-in process without a valid boarding card, but we do not consider security was compromised as everyone would be subject to the usual and very rigorous security checks that are in place.

"Nobody would be able to board an aircraft without a bona fide pass, because they would not have been allocated a seat number."

A spokesman for Manchester Airport said: "We are conducting internal enquiries to establish if one of the passengers gained access to the departure lounge using a duplicate of his travelling companion's boarding card.

"The importance of verifying boarding cards has been re-emphasised to security employees who control access to the departure lounge."